This project was directed by FGF chair Helen MacNamara and Executive Director Nathan Yeowell. The FGF team working on the project was John Mackenzie, Adam Terry and Grace Wyld.

The research was supported by a team of FGF staff and Policy Associates, including Hamida Ali, Maren Ashford, Robbie Bates, Bruno Dent, Joe Derrett, Shuab Gamote, Jon Huggett, Sarah Mulley and Anna Randle. Thanks to Marc Stears and Polly Neate for convening discussions to inform the work, and to all at the Institute for Government, and special thanks to Cath Haddon.

Our recommendations have been guided by an expert advisory group. We are immensely grateful to them for their time and input over the last six months. The conclusions of this paper are FGF’s, and not their individual views. This advisory group included the following people, as well as experts with senior civil service experience within both No.10 and the Cabinet Office.

• Amber de Botton, Director of Communications at No10 (2022-23); former ITV and Sky News journalist; currently Chief Communications Officer at the Guardian Media Group.

• Peter Hill, Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister’s Sherpa for the G7 and G20 (2017-19); CEO of COP26.

• Polly Mackenzie – Director of Policy to the Deputy Prime Minister (2010-15); Chief Executive of Demos (2018-22); Chief Social Purpose Officer at UAL (2022-25).

• James Purnell – Special Adviser to the Prime Minister (1997-2001); Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport (2007-08) and Work and Pensions (2008-09); former Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Arts London; currently CEO of Flint Global.

• Jenny Rowlands – Public servant, most recently Chief Executive of Camden Council.

• Jon Stokes – Clinical psychologist and Associate Scholar at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, specialising in leadership and executive coaching; former Associate Fellow of the Institute for Government and Founding Director of Tavistock Consulting.